Halloween Events in London in October 2026

Halloween at Kew Gardens

Halloween at Kew is one I’d consider if you’re looking for a Halloween event that feels a little different from the usual city attractions. Kew Gardens transforms after dark with a 1.5km illuminated trail through the gardens, featuring spooky installations, live performers and themed areas. This year’s trail includes Dracula’s Lair, a Cursed Tomb, a Medieval Dungeon and the return of the Headless Horseman.

There are different entry sessions available, with the experience becoming spookier as the evening goes on. I’d allow around 1 to 1.5 hours to walk the trail, although you may want longer if you stop for food or drinks along the way. You can pick up seasonal treats such as hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows during your visit. It’s worth knowing that this is a ticketed event rather than general entry to Kew Gardens, so check exactly what your ticket includes before booking. I’d book ahead if this is high on your list, as popular dates and evening sessions can sell out.

Dates: 16th October – 1st November 2026
Price: Tickets from around £15 per person, depending on the date and session
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London TW9 3AE

Halloween at the Tower of London

If you’re visiting London during October half-term, the Tower of London has a Halloween event included with standard palace admission. The historic fortress is bringing its spooky past to life with theatrical ghost encounters and characters inspired by the people and stories connected to the Tower. During your visit, look out for the Haunted Forge, the Enchanted Wishing Well and the Raven’s Observatory.

There are scheduled performances throughout the day, so I’d check the programme when you arrive rather than assuming everything happens at once. You can also explore the Tower’s usual highlights, including its famous ravens and the Crown Jewels, during the same visit. I’d allow several hours if you want time for the Halloween activities as well as the main attraction. Keep in mind that you need to pay for standard admission unless you’re a member of Historic Royal Palaces, but you don’t need a separate ticket for the Halloween activities themselves.

Dates: 24th October – 1st November 2026
Price: Included with standard Tower of London admission; check current ticket prices before booking
Location: Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB

Halloween Films at Rooftop Cinema Club Peckham

If you fancy watching a Halloween film rather than going to a traditional spooky attraction, Rooftop Cinema Club Peckham is worth checking out. Its October programme includes horror films and Halloween favourites, giving you the option to choose something light-hearted or go for something a little scarier.

The Halloween Day screenings listed for 31st October include The Addams Family at 1.15pm, Hocus Pocus at 4.55pm and Halloween at 7.20pm. The later Halloween screening is part of the Dark Tales series, which includes a live storytelling performance before the film. I’d choose Hocus Pocus if you’re planning a Halloween afternoon with friends and want something nostalgic rather than scary.

Dates: Selected dates throughout October 2026
Price: Tickets reported from around £17 per person; check the current screening price.
Location: Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4ST.

Taste Film’s Hocus Pocus Dining Experience

For something that combines dinner and a film, Taste Film’s Hocus Pocus experience is worth considering. Instead of simply watching the film while eating dinner, the experience pairs a five-course menu with scenes from the 1993 film, with each course served in time with what’s happening on screen. The menu has Halloween-inspired dishes and drinks, with options that have included pumpkin-spiced popcorn, pumpkin fritters and a pecan pie finale. There are classic and vegan menu options, so I’d check which one is available when you book if you have dietary requirements.

Tickets are considerably more expensive than a standard cinema visit, so I’d see it as a special occasion option rather than a budget activity. Check the available dates carefully, as the experience runs on selected evenings rather than every day.

Dates: Selected dates in October and November 2026
Price: From £87.50 per person plus a £3.50 booking fee, according to the listed starting price
Location: The Refinery Citypoint, 1 Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9HT

Hobbledown Heath Pumpkin Patch

If you’re visiting London with children or fancy a daytime autumn activity, the Hobbledown Heath Pumpkin Patch is another option to look at. It’s set in an outdoor meadow beside the River Crane in Hounslow, with rows of pumpkins, themed photo spots and seasonal activities. There are also games, food and drink stalls and marshmallow toasting around the fire pits.

On selected dates, Pumpkin Nights offer an after-dark visit with lanterns and additional seasonal entertainment. If you want to make a full day of it, you can also look at the combined Patch + Park ticket, which includes access to the Hobbledown Heath adventure park. It’s outside central London, so I’d factor in travel time and transport costs before adding it to a short city-break itinerary.

Dates: 25th September – 1st November 2026
Price: Pumpkin Patch tickets from £7, with a booking fee; combined Patch + Park tickets from £20 per person
Location: Hobbledown Heath, Staines Road, Hounslow, West London

Halloween Pop-Ups in London in October 2026

The Haunting on Russell Street

If you’re looking for a Halloween-themed bar in central London, The Haunting on Russell Street is one to look into. This immersive cocktail pop-up has a spooky theme, with theatrical surroundings and drinks created for the Halloween season. The experience is designed around the setting as much as the drinks, so expect a more unusual bar visit than simply ordering a cocktail at a regular pub. It’s located in Covent Garden, which makes it easy to combine with dinner, shopping or a West End show. The pop-up is scheduled to run through 1st November, so it could work well if you’re visiting London around Halloween weekend.

Dates: Until 1st November 2026
Price: Entry and drink prices should be checked with the venue before visiting
Location: 9 Russell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5HZ

Halloween Installations in Covent Garden

Covent Garden is a good area to visit if you want to see Halloween decorations without booking a full event. The West Piazza has a seasonal installation with pumpkin displays and themed photo spots, making it an easy stop while you’re exploring the neighbourhood. From 28th October to 1st November, the Piazza is also hosting Halloween pop-ups with seasonal food and drinks. You can look out for Halloween-inspired crêpes and themed cocktails while browsing the stalls and nearby shops.

Dates: Halloween installations through 1st November 2026
Price: Free to view the public installations; food, drinks and some events cost extra.
Location: Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 8RF.

The Giant Beetle at Leadenhall Market

Leadenhall Market is another central London spot to add to your Halloween plans, especially if you enjoy unusual installations and photography. The historic covered market is hosting a large illuminated jewel beetle sculpture as part of its Halloween decorations. The artwork uses colour-changing lights, making it stand out against the market’s Victorian roof and ornate architecture. The beetle is scheduled to return for the Halloween period from 24th October to 1st November, so check the dates if you’re visiting earlier in the month. You can see it while exploring the market’s shops, cafés and restaurants, which makes this an easy activity to combine with a walk around the City of London.

Dates: Halloween display: 24th October – 1st November 2026
Price: Free
Location: Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 1LT

Free Things to Do in London at Halloween

See the Halloween Decorations Around Kensington, Notting Hill and Belgravia

If you want to see some Halloween decorations without spending money on a ticket, I’d plan a walk through a few of London’s residential neighbourhoods. Kensington and Holland Park are known for large townhouses and elaborate seasonal displays, with streets such as Ilchester Place, Abbotsbury Road and Phillimore Gardens worth looking out for. In Notting Hill, you can explore Elgin Crescent and Arundel Gardens, where decorated front doors and colourful houses make a good backdrop for autumn photos. Around Chelsea and Belgravia, Elizabeth Street and Motcomb Street are worth checking for seasonal shopfronts and Halloween displays.

I’d aim to visit in the final week of October, as many residents put up their decorations closer to Halloween rather than at the beginning of the month. Remember that these are residential streets, so be respectful of people living there and don’t enter private gardens or block doorways to take photos. Displays can change from year to year, which means there’s no guarantee that every street will have decorations when you visit. I’d group a few nearby streets together rather than trying to cover all of these areas in one walk.

Price: Free
Location: Kensington, Holland Park, Notting Hill, Chelsea and Belgravia, West London

Follow the High Street Kensington Halloween Trail

The High Street Kensington Halloween Trail is a free activity to consider if you’re visiting London towards the end of October. You follow a map through participating shops and businesses, looking for clues at different stops along the route. Once you’ve completed the trail, you can follow the instructions to collect a treat bag from the designated collection point. It’s a good way to explore the area beyond the main shopping street and discover businesses you might not otherwise have visited. You can pick up a physical map from High Street Kensington station or participating businesses, or download the map online. I’d check the official trail page before setting off so you know which locations are taking part and where to collect the treat bag.

Dates: 23rd – 31st October 2026
Price: Free
Location: High Street Kensington and participating businesses, London W8

Visit Holland Park’s Playful Park of Peculiar

Holland Park is hosting the Playful Park of Peculiar for one evening on Halloween, with a walk-through experience featuring unusual characters, live performances and illuminated installations. The event is designed to be family-friendly, with earlier sessions offering a gentler experience and later sessions becoming a little spookier as the light fades. Along the route, visitors can encounter characters such as the Peculiar Sisters and the Circus of the Strange, alongside interactive displays and photo opportunities. There are also themed food and drink options to look out for near the end of the experience.

Entry is free, but tickets are required because the event has a limited capacity. The organisers have said that additional tickets are due to be released on 15th October, so I’d check the official page if you’re interested. As this event is popular and the initial allocation has sold out, don’t travel to Holland Park expecting to walk straight in without a ticket. If you do manage to get tickets, I’d consider exploring Kensington’s Halloween trail and decorations earlier in the day to make the most of your visit to the area.

Dates: 31st October 2026, 4.30pm–7.30pm
Price: Free, but a ticket is required
Location: Holland Park, enter through the gates on Kensington High Street, London W8 7RG

Watch the Hyde Park Sausage Walk

If you’re still in London the day after Halloween, the Hyde Park Sausage Walk is a fun event to add to your plans. The gathering brings together dachshunds dressed in Halloween costumes, with dogs appearing in outfits ranging from pumpkins and skeletons to witches and other spooky characters. It’s free to attend, so you can watch the walk even if you don’t have a dog of your own. The event is scheduled to start near the Physical Energy Statue in Hyde Park, with a Best Dressed competition for the dogs. I’d arrive a little early if you want to see the costumes before the group sets off and get a good spot for photos. As it’s an outdoor event, check the organiser’s latest update before travelling in case the meeting point or timings change. You can combine it with a walk through Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens if you’re spending the day in this part of London.

Dates: 1st November 2026, 12pm–2pm
Price: Free to attend
Location: Meet at the Physical Energy Statue in Hyde Park, near Kensington Gardens, London

Thank you so much for reading and I hope this Halloween in London guide has given you plenty of inspiration for your own trip.

Check out my other London guides here:

• The Best Things to do in London at Christmas
• London Monthly Guides
• Hotel Indigo West Shepherd’s Bush Review (2026)